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Lummi Nation to Train Entrepreneurs with Grant

The Lummi Nation received a $300,000 grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to help train tribal members in launching small businesses, reported The News Tribune.

"It's about creating pathways out of poverty," said Bill Vesneski, evaluations director for the foundation, to The News Tribune.

The Lummi Nation Service Organization intends to train about 120 people, many of whom are expected to be tribal artisans learning to turn their craftmaking into a money generator.

The grant will also fund an "Indianpreneurship" curriculum, and entrepreneurs-in-the-making can pursue internships in partnership with Northwest Indian College and the Small Business Development Center at Western Washington University.

"The tribe has such a compelling vision of economic health and security for its members," Vesneski told the Tribune. "At the same time I think they really want to be an economic generator for the community."